Unbreakable ties

What greater thing is there for two human souls that to feel that they are joined… to strengthen each other… to be at one with each other in silent unspeakable memories.
George Eliot

The Stratford High community put its hand out and was grasped tightly by Newtown High when the South-West Conference wrestling rivals put their competitive nature aside prior to the match at the Ray Needham Gymnasium on Thursday night.
Twenty-six memorial seconds ticked off the clock in honor of Stratford High graduate Victoria Soto and every victim of the senseless tragedy that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown on Dec. 14.
A Tower of Hearts banner adorned the wall behind the scorer’s table, where hundreds of heart-shaped notes penned by Stratford High students were flanked by green and white balloons — the school colors of Sandy Hook.
The Nighthawk wrestlers then stepped forward, as called upon by Stratford announcer Hal Baird, and Stratford cheerleaders Alyssa Smith, Adrienne Meneo, Courtney Harris and Natalie Rosenbaum alternately escorted them one by one to be greeted by Stratford Principal Margaret Lasek and Assistant Principal Joseph Corso, who handed each wrestler a green-and-white flower bouquet.
The Newtown team wore t-shirts that featured a heart with 26 ribbons inside and read on the back:
Our Hearts are Broken But our Spirits are Strong